The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that there is
"discernible evidence" that humans-through accelerating changes in multiple
forcing factors-have begun to alter the earth's climate regime. Such
conclusions are based primarily upon so-called "fingerprint" studies, namely
the warming pattern in the midtroposphere in the Southern Hemisphere, the
disproportionate rise in nighttime and winter temperatures, and the statistical
increase in extreme weather events in many nations. All three aspects of
climate change and climate variability have biological implications.

Detection of climate change has also drawn upon data from glacial records that
indicate a general retreat of tropical summit glaciers. Here the authors
examine biological (plant and insect) data, glacial findings, and temperature
records taken at high-elevation, mountainous regions. It is concluded that, at
high elevations, the overall trends regarding glaciers, plants, insect range,
and shifting isotherms show remarkable internal consistency, and that there is
consistency between model projections and the ongoing changes. There are
implications for public health as well as for developing an interdisciplinary
approach to the detection of climate change.